Tender Shoot

A tender shoot serves as a reminder of the potential for growth, and the ongoing work of God's providence.

It can be a tender and vulnerable posture to trust in God's timing and provision, hoping that He can bring forth new life and purpose even in the most challenging of circumstances.

"—a scrawny seedling, a scrubby plant in a parched field." Isaiah 53:2

Seeing Red

Colors represent many things: emotions, organizations, and ideas.

Perhaps, most passionate of these colors may be the color red. In western culture the idiomatic expression, “seeing red” is an expression of anger and rage. Whereas in other countries, the expression could hold an entirely different meaning.

Seeing Red
watercolor
16” x 24”

Are we currently only capable of understanding a fragmented spectrum?

Technical Notes:

I began with a limited palette: perylene red, hansa yellow and a violet.

Eventually, after several layers, the limited palette became more inclusive. I added a few more hues in addition to the original three colors. Having at least one staining color, I learned, was needed.

Then, summer humidity became a major issue. I wanted to address the waves it was causing in the paper. And the significant pulling off the board.

Midway through the painting process, the paper was re-stretched. This meant, taking the paper off the gator board and carefully painting water across the back of the watercolor sheet, soaking it. Then adhering it to the gator board again. I use a staple gun.

Thankfully, it dried flat without any water falling upon or touching the previously painted portion. I considered videoing the process but I was already holding my breath. I didn’t want to add anything else which might distract my focus.

For those of you who are watercolor paper enthusiasts, this piece is painted on 140 lb cold, which means it has a slight texture.pressed Arches watercolor paper.

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

by William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

Where the Wild Things Are

“And Max, the king of all wild things, was lonely and wanted to be where someone loved him best of all.”
― Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

The book, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak both fascinated and frightened me as a child.

My favorite scenes occur as a forest grows in Max’s room. Then the banks of an ocean appear. Max travels solo in his boat, by night and day for almost a year! Or at least, what feels to be a year! (Some days are just like that.)

As a child, I could hide myself in those spaces and that imaginative solo voyage.

Max finally reaches a far off shore, after his long voyage … only to be confronted by giant terrible Wild Things!

Now looking back upon the story as an adult, I am even more so struck by young Max’s courage to stare down and shout at the Wild Things,

“Be Still!”

I am reminded that there continue to be many things out there that roar at us, no matter what our age.

Sometimes we have the words to face those Wild Things. And sometimes, we have to steadfastly seek them.

Either way, whichever might be true for you . . .

I hope you always have someone who loves you best of all.

Where the Wild Things Are
watercolor
12” x 17”